Each of the students has the choice to craft their own curriculum by choosing one elective from each of the following slots. In addition, each student will participate in an "Ethics in Debate" discussion with two staff members.


=**__Theory Classes – Monday July 23–__** **__11 a__****__.m.__** **__–__** **__Noon__**= 
**_ Berthiaume – Debating T Versus Non-Traditional Affirmatives**
What to do when the other team won't defend their plan? Or when they defend it, but not in a policy-making framework? What the heck does that mean anyway? This class will focus on how to conceptualize topicality and framework arguments when the affirmative won't tie themselves to a specific policy action. We'll talk about how to rewrite your T and theory blocks to apply to these types of cases, including what types of theory impacts can be made persuasive in non-traditional formats.
Attending: Nithya Amaraneni , Tommy Beyer , Ronak Bhatt , Steve Bomze , Shawnee Brunson , Ben Chang , Julia Coursey , Adam Freedman , Boyd Gardner , Deepak George , Mindy Huynh , Ram Jayakumar , Pavan Krishnamurthy , Brandon Law , Sean O'Brien , Emily Owens , Jake Sendar , Victor Shao , Grace Zhang , Dexter Zhuang .
**_** **Cramer – We’ve forgotten the value of the case & disad debate**
This year’s topic makes the case & disad debate more valuable than ever before. In a world of sketchy affirmative solvency, it’s possible to couple a mitigated case and disadvantage debate to score the win. Let’s talk about why this debate is so valuable this year and how to make it work for you. This debate offers much more than just the politics debate, the case/disad debate has become a lost art.
Attending: Neil Bapodra , Jenny Bragiel , Jessica Castillo , Jordan Daniels , Nicholas Dumlao , Mike Gajewsky , Joe Grimes , Sam Huppert , Stephen Li , David Manella , Brad Meloche , Sam Page , Derek Park , Michael Park , Fadi Pulous , Alex Stacy , David Wolkowicz , Ogi Zugic.
**_ Culpepper – Drawing a line in the Sand**
This theory session will explore the lost art of beating those radical crazy K teams that will defend nothing, well certainly nothing you are prepared to debate. It’s not just old school fairness but a new way of conceptualizing a vision of debate that requires the affirmative to answer the question posed by the resolution without defending hard set rules.
Attending: Elizabeth Allan , Risha Bhattacharjee , Trevor Chenoweth , Brian Cole , Rebecca Drapkin , Robin Gray , Leo Hayes , Helen Ho , Amy Hu , Alex Katz , CJ LeSueur , Bonnie Macfarlane , Justin Moor , Nikki Nabulsi , Grant Nelson , Justin Patrick , Nick Ramsey , Rob Rein , Hao Shen , Nimish Sheth , Jonathan Sidney , Ben Sigrist , Nick Simmons , Sara Simonis
**_ Greenstein – Abusive/Process CPs: Aff and Neg**
This lecture will teach you the theoretical reasons why the negative can use fiat to manipulate everyday processes making it impossible for the affirmative to win. The class will also teach the Aff how to analytically dismantle these strategies.
Attending: Mike Carlotti , Adit Chipalkatti , Farhan Daredia , Lisa Ha , Kathy Hutchinson , Christophe Kolandjian , Jon Libgober , Jesse Spafford , Kelly Stroh , Kyle Sutton , Lara Townzen , Kyra Weiss
**_ Heaton and Marks – International FIAT**
International actor CP's are the most important CP's on the topic this year. Unfortunately, that means there are 193 different country CP's and hundreds of thousands of other international actors who each have their own favorite dessert. Screw that. International fiat is not fair! Did anyone notice that? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! We will focus on the best arguments and how to actually deploy them to ensure victory against evil.
Attending: Robert Awh , Tonia Beglari , Jeffrey Boxer , Chrissy Boyd , Ilana Maier , Rohan Sadagopal , Bala Sekaran , David Sterman , Mark Zhang
**_ Mancuso – The Fundamental Unfairness of “Advocacy Inclusive” Negative Strategies**
This class will analyze the arguments for and against negative strategies that attempt to capture all or parts of the affirmative advocacy. Emphasis will be placed on fairness issues.
**_ shanahan – //rules, norms, and voting issues in the age of kritik-ing//**
a conversation about the implications of kritiks for //how// we debate and who //wins//: when “competitive equity” just ain’t enough
Attending: Alex Bonnet , Corey Cameron , Marta Chlistunoff , Trusha Daya , Nathan DuPont , David Gritz , Kristina Gunnarsdottir , Sam Hogan , Nick Lind , Farzon Lotfi , Lisa Pang , Sam Reetz , Andrew Snow , Ryan Wash , Daniel Watkins
**_ Turner – The Philosophy of Theory**
What is the significance of being able to debate about debate? Many kritik arguments call into question the desirability/possibility of staples like fairness, competitive equity, limits, and policy-driven education. This elective will focus on philosophical criticisms and defenses of the fundamental concepts of theory debates.
Attending: Kiran Bhat , Annie Deng , Jeff Gianattasio , Dana Higgins , Ilias Karim , Zach Levine , Emma Manson , Julius Mitchell , Geoff Parker , Anjan Patnaik , Ashish Patra
=**__Theory Electives – Tuesday July 24–__** **__9:30 – 10:30 a.m.__** **__or__** **__10:45 – 11:45 a.m.__**= 
**_ Bacon – Rockin the** **Perm** **– We Don’t Roll Like That**
A somewhat radical, but absolutely needed, attack on affirmatives who clearly (and alas effectively) are using perms as a conditional advocacy separate from the affirmative plan. This class suggests that it is perfectly fine for the affirmative to permute as a test of competition, but allows you to easily prove that that is NOT what they are doing. Come live the dream of every negative; kill perms dead. **If you truly believe in your heart of hearts that conditionality is perfectly fine, this class is probably not for you.**
Attending: Ronak Bhatt , Steve Bomze , Jenny Bragiel , Adit Chipalkatti , Marta Chlistunoff , Julia Coursey , Trusha Daya , Mindy Huynh , Jake Sendar , Daniel Watkins , Grace Zhang
**_** **Clark** **– The Strategy of Theory**
Like any other argument, theory is strategically deployed to win debates. We will discuss questions like: which theory arguments should I make and not make in the 2AC? When should I go for theory in the 1AR or 2AR? How do I avoid wasting all my time on theory in the 2NR?
Attending: Tommy Beyer , Risha Bhattacharjee , Alex Bonnet , Jessica Castillo , Jordan Daniels , Rebecca Drapkin , Nicholas Dumlao , Nathan DuPont , Robin Gray , Kristina Gunnarsdottir , Lisa Ha , Pavan Krishnamurthy , Brandon Law , Stephen Li , Ilana Maier , Julius Mitchell , Lisa Pang , Nick Ramsey , Victor Shao , Kelly Stroh , Kyra Weiss , Dexter Zhuang
**_ Culpepper – The Sans evidence way to beat the consultation counterplan**
Burma, Peru, and New Zealand all wish to be loved but why should we care on an Africa topic? This will be a crash course in permutations and logic against those seemingly endless number of countries that want to be our friend.
Attending: Chrissy Boyd , Adam Freedman , Ram Jayakumar , Nick Lind , Bonnie Macfarlane , Justin Moor , Derek Park , Sam Reetz , Alex Stacy
**_ Greenstein – The Glory that is Intrinsicness**
This theory class will teach you how to use a forgotten yet magical and ancient tool, intrinsicness, to beat a disadvantage or counterplan without any evidence. The class will also discuss how to answer and defeat such powerful arguments.
Attending: Elizabeth Allan , Robert Awh , Kiran Bhat , Brian Cole , Farhan Daredia , David Gritz , Leo Hayes , Helen Ho , Alex Katz , Christophe Kolandjian , CJ LeSueur , Nikki Nabulsi , Sean O'Brien , Michael Park , David Sterman , Lara Townzen , Ogi Zugic
**_ Heaton – BASIC Counterplan competition**
This class is for those who would like a review of the fundamentals of counterplan competition, permutations, and net benefits.
Attending: Mike Gajewsky , Zach Levine , David Manella
**_ Powers – International Fiat is Good**
Recent years have seen a resurgence of affirmatives relying on theoretical objections to counter-plans that use international fiat to enact the plan’s mandates (for instance, several of the generics we are writing are international fiat CPs). In this section we will collaborate to write a 2NC block to defend international fiat, as well as discuss which arguments are strategically and intellectually defendable and thus “winners” if explained well in the 2NR.
Attending: Neil Bapodra , Boyd Gardner , Amy Hu , Sam Huppert , Fadi Pulous , Rob Rein , Hao Shen , Kyle Sutton
**_ Quinn – Budget-Spec**
Does the USAID have a separate budget account devoted to health assistance? Yes. But how exclusive is it and why does it matter for Topicality, Agent debates, and Disads? Come discuss the implications of this for both the Aff and the Neg. It goes up to 11.
Attending: Mike Carlotti , Trevor Chenoweth , Grant Nelson , Ben Sigrist
**_ shanahan – //defending topicality on critical aff’s//**
a conversation about how to defend (almost) whatever you want to on the aff and still win, including practical tactics, theoretical support, and specific literature bases
Attending: Tonia Beglari , Jeffrey Boxer , Shawnee Brunson , Ben Chang , Annie Deng , Jeff Gianattasio , Sam Hogan , Ilias Karim , Jon Libgober , Farzon Lotfi , Brad Meloche , Emily Owens , Sam Page , Justin Patrick , Jonathan Sidney , Sara Simonis , Andrew Snow , Jesse Spafford , Ryan Wash
**_ Strange – Fiat**
We'll discuss the nature of fiat and formulate arguments for its application and limits.
Attending: Nithya Amaraneni , Corey Cameron , Deepak George , Joe Grimes , Dana Higgins , Kathy Hutchinson , Emma Manson , Geoff Parker , Anjan Patnaik , Ashish Patra , Rohan Sadagopal , Bala Sekaran , Nimish Sheth , Nick Simmons , David Wolkowicz , Mark Zhang

**__Theory Electives – Thursday July 26–__** **__10:00 – 10:50 a.m.__**
**_ Bacon – We Three Kings of Theory Are…**
A hardcore, in depth presentation that provides you, the truly honorable, the ability to smite the hoards of the wicked (that being the non-topical, the conditional and the artificially competitive, especially those foul fiends who run the consultation counterplan) even if the judge isn’t the biggest fan of theory in the universe. This trio of theory arguments are elemental weapons for any truly competitive debater, but are awfully difficult to master. Come receive your lightning scar; He/She whose argument must not be allowed cannot win.
Attending: Elizabeth Allan , Ronak Bhatt , Ben Chang , Adit Chipalkatti , Jeff Gianattasio , Leo Hayes , Nikki Nabulsi , Geoff Parker , Anjan Patnaik , Ben Sigrist
**_** **Clark** **– International Actor Counterplans**
Smart negative teams will deploy an international actor counterplan in nearly every debate this year. We will discuss theoretical objections to these counterplans and defenses of international fiat. Come prepared to take notes and turn them into blocks.
Attending: Mike Gajewsky , Robin Gray , Lisa Ha , Amy Hu , Alex Katz , Pavan Krishnamurthy , Zach Levine , Michael Park , Nick Ramsey , Nick Simmons
**_** **Cramer – Back to Basics: The Kritik? Or is it….The Critique?**
If you don’t know much about the critical debate, then this is the lecture for you. Debating the critique can be quite nuanced these days which means it’s easy to forget the basics of the argument. Let’s take a look at the uses for a critique because lets face it, without a strong foundation you don’t stand a chance of either winning the K or beating the K. We’ll discuss types, links, implications, alternative debates, the strategic uses of critiques and time permitting how to answer them.
Attending: Jenny Bragiel , Trusha Daya , David Gritz , Helen Ho , Mindy Huynh , Brandon Law , Nick Lind , Farzon Lotfi , Bonnie Macfarlane , David Manella , Julius Mitchell , Ashish Patra , Victor Shao , Alex Stacy , Lara Townzen
**_ Marks – AT to the FW**
Debating framework is AWESOME… especially when you're neg running a kritik. We will learn the best ways to answer aff frameworks, and will slice through every aff framework argument like a knife through flan.
Attending: Nithya Amaraneni , Steve Bomze , Alex Bonnet , Jeffrey Boxer , Annie Deng , Dana Higgins , Christophe Kolandjian , Sam Page , Lisa Pang , Justin Patrick , Bala Sekaran , Jake Sendar , Hao Shen , Nimish Sheth , Jonathan Sidney , Sara Simonis , Ryan Wash , Daniel Watkins , Kyra Weiss , Mark Zhang
**_ Quinn – Condition CP's Are Cool, And By Cool I Mean Totally Sweet**
Aid conditions are legion in U.S. policy, so shouldn't the Aff be prepared to defend unconditional assistance? Come hear why anyone who says otherwise is a Death-Eater.
Attending: Tommy Beyer , Kiran Bhat , Trevor Chenoweth , Rebecca Drapkin , Rob Rein , David Wolkowicz , Grace Zhang
**_ Serrano – Permutations – Double the solvency, double the fun**
How to beat all sorts of counterplans with permutations - both legitimate and ones that push the theoretical lines a bit. Learn to use this tool in all instances to answer exception PICs, textually competitive PICs, and even when they kick the counterplan.
Attending: , Neil Bapodra , Tonia Beglari , Corey Cameron , Jessica Castillo , Julia Coursey , Jordan Daniels , Nicholas Dumlao , Adam Freedman , Boyd Gardner , Joe Grimes , Kathy Hutchinson , Ram Jayakumar , CJ LeSueur , Ilana Maier , Brad Meloche , Grant Nelson , Emily Owens , Sam Reetz , Jesse Spafford , Kyle Sutton
**_ shanahan – //affirmative-inclusive strategies//**
a conversation about the most formidable negative strategy on this year’s topic, which includes theory, practice, and specific applications to the sub-saharan africa topic
Attending: Shawnee Brunson , Ilias Karim , Emma Manson , Rohan Sadagopal , Andrew Snow
**_ Strange – Debating Topicality**
We'll discuss the theory and strategy of arguing T, not by reasonability or comparative definitions, but from a different perspective.
Attending: Risha Bhattacharjee , Chrissy Boyd , Farhan Daredia , Deepak George , Sam Huppert , Stephen Li , Justin Moor , Derek Park , Fadi Pulous , Dexter Zhuang ,
**_ Turner – Alternative Theory**
Most of you don't remember the halcyon days when alternatives didn't have to have texts. Back before the loaded language of "floating PIK" made any affirmative inclusion sound illegitimate. Funny thing is that wasn't that long ago--it's not too late to bring back real alternatives that don't pretend to be counterplans.
Attending: Robert Awh , Mike Carlotti , Marta Chlistunoff , Brian Cole , Nathan DuPont , Kristina Gunnarsdottir , Sam Hogan , Jon Libgober , Sean O'Brien , David Sterman , Kelly Stroh , Ogi Zugic


=**__Theory Electives – Thursday July 26–__** **__11:00 – 11:50 a.m.__**= 
**_ Akrami** **& Serrano –** **You want me to spec my what?** -
Aspec, cspec, espec, fspec, ospec, time spec, and youraffistoogoodformetoocutcardsonsoI'lljustmakeup arbitraryrulesthatyoushouldhavefollowedandpretendlikeIwouldhavecutaDisadtoit - spec. How to beat all of these arguments and more. Special cameo appearance by "spec specialist" Cyrus Akrami.
**_ Berthiaume – Country PICs**
Does the plan have to act toward all of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa? What about counterplans that exclude one country? This theory class will discuss issues of plan writing, counterplan defense, and permutation strategy surrounding PICs that exclude one of the countries.
**_** **Clark** **– Debating Topicality on the Aff**
Tired of losing on T-Substantial is without material qualifications? This elective will cover debating topicality in the 2AC, 1AR, and 2AR. In particular, I will focus on constructing and defending counter-interpretations.
**_ Mancuso – All Things Fiat, Including Something You’ve Never Heard Before**
This class will analyze the arguments surrounding the concept of “fiat”. It will emphasize aspects that are particularly relevant to the Africa topic, such as “international fiat,” “multiple agent fiat,” and “non-governmental fiat.” It will also analyze a new theory of “fiat as imagining difference.”
**_ Marks – Kritiks ARE Theory Arguments**
A lot of people hate the idea that a kritik is anything other than some magical Harry Potter creature coming to save them from their ivory tower misery. Too bad for them. Kritiks are just theory arguments. We'll learn why this model of kritiking has been conceptually devastating: on answering framework, on answering permutations, on explaining the alternative, and more. You'll also learn why some people think this model has conceptual limitations. Take this class to play with the boundaries of kritik and debate theory.
**_ Powers – The Theory of Theory**
How many times has a judge told you that you should have extended conditionality bad in the 2AR, or not one for severance permutations bad in the 2NR? This discussion will outline the strategic value of theory arguments, offer advice on precisely when it is productive to extend theory arguments, which ones work the most, which ones don’t, and provide cautionary tales to help identify when you are over relying on your theoretical toolbox to get the “W”.
**_ Quinn – International Fiat is better than Quidditch**
Why shouldn't Zanzibar be able to do the plan? Come learn how to defend your country-of-choice against those Team America Theorists who believe that U.S. action is the beginning and the end. How rude of them.
**_ shanahan – //debating the judge//**
a conversation about the role of the ballot in the second generation of kritiks and kritik-ing, including some theoretical and practical advice
**_ Strange – Debating Topicality**
We'll discuss the theory and strategy of arguing T, not by reasonability or comparative definitions, but from a different perspective.


=**__Theory Electives – Saturday July 28 –__** **__10:30 a.m.__** **__–__** **__Noon__**= 
**_ Berthiaume – Agent Counterplans**
The agent counterplan is the fastest way to neutralize the affirmative advantage while gaining net benefits. This theory class will discuss the major agent counterplans, their net benefits, and strategic permutations.
**_ Culpepper – Understanding what is behind the Voting Issue**
Voting Issues seem to permeate every theory argument that could possibly be dreamt up. The question is why is theory a voting issue and what is behind the scenes of debatability and fairness? Gaining this knowledge is critical to winning any theory debate because like everything else it’s all about impact calculus.
**_ Greenstein – How to slay the Consult CP**
This class will teach you how to devastate and punish teams that read consult counterplans. It will explore the answers that affirmative's must make and discuss how to effectively choose which ones to go for in the 1ar and 2ar.
**_ Heaton – Debating T**
Topicality is a weapon. It's a way of evening the playing field, keeping the game fair and enabling you to beat the cases you didn't think to research.
**_ Mainiero & Serrano – International Fiat**
Every aff can be solved by an international actor or actors CP. Learn how to justify not just other countries actions, but also international organizations (UN, AU, World Bank, IMF). Special emphasis will be placed on justifying multiple country actions. Together we will construct theory blocks for you.
**_ Mancuso – Permutation Theory**
This class will offer a comprehensive treatment of permutation theory, as it relates both to counterplans and critiques. Topics will include: topicality, durability (fiat), severance, intrinsicness, advocacy, and time frame perms.
**_ Powers – Theory of Producing a Winning File**
Certain High School (and College) programs consistently are seen in the late elimination debates of national tournaments, year after year. While some of this should be attributed to outstanding debaters, a lot of winning has to do with teamwork, research, and being able to access high quality evidence quickly. Writing good files, especially in the post-paper debate age, is an art, passed down through (debater) generations, and is a critical variable explaining the repeated success of many programs. This seminar will discuss what a good file entails, how to efficiently and quickly write one, how to structure blocks, order arguments, and locate holes that will prevent you from getting out-researched by your opponents.
**_ shanahan – //role of the topic//**
a conversation about how the topic informs all affirmative debating, including but not limited to interpellation, the hail, constitutive rhetoric, strategic essentialism, and aff niche strategies
**_ Turner – The F-Word: Framework**
*&*&it. Please make the hurting stop. Please. If you want help making sure you get to keep your kritik in the debate I'll be happy to assist.